Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 4

THE ADVENTURES
was rcprefented, were to carry me off, appeared upon ,
the flage, with a defign of furprifing me on the bed ;
of turf, where they thought I was afleep; but when !
they went to feize the king of Leon, they were very
much aftonifhed to find neither king nor knave.
The play was immediately interrupted; all the ac¬
tors were perplexed; feme called me, others fearched
for me; one hallowed, and another curfed me. The
Archbifliop perceiving the trouble and confufion that
reigned behind the feenes, afked what was the mat- ;
ter. A page, who adled the Graciofo of the piece,
hearing the prelate’s voice, came out and faid to his ;
Grace : “ My Lord, you need not fear that the Moors
“ will take the King of Leon prifoner; he has efca- j
r< ped with his royal robes.” “ Heaven be praifed! j
“ (cried the Archbifliop) he was very much in the !
“ right to fly from the enemies of our religion, and
“ efcape the chains which they had prepared for
“ him. He has, doubtlefs, returned towards Leon,
“ the capital of his kingdom; and I wifli he may
“ get home without meeting with any bad accident.
“ Let no man go in purfuit of him, for I fliould be
“ forty if his Majefty received any mortification
“ from me.” The prelate having fpoke in this man¬
ner, ordered my part to be read, and the play to go
on.
CHAP. XL
The Jequel of Scipio’s hiHory.
AS long as my money lafted, the landlord treated
me with great refpefl; but no fooner did he
perceive that my finances were exhaurted, than he
looked cool upon me, picked a quarrel, and one